Wednesday, December 9, 2009

You Know What They Say About "Best Laid Plans"?

You know they say "best laid plans always fail"?

I had a "best laid plan" for the birth of Little Miracle. I hired a doula, switched to a midwife that does water birth, had taken all the classes, read all the books, and was ready for my HOSPITAL water birth with my doula and midwife there.

I didn't get it.

12/7/09

I cleaned the house tonight when Stephen took Little Man to the gym. I was having a few contractions, but I was having them all week. They would come and go, nothing consistent. After I cleaned, I sat on the birth ball for a while. Bouncing. Swaying. Doing anything I could do to get the contractions to come back and stay consistent. Nothing was happening, so I decided to give up and go to bed. I had seen my midwife that morning, and I was 2-3 cms, but she stretched me to 3-4. She said she would "see ya tonight" but I did not put faith into it.

I went to bed at 9:30. I say went to bed, but I just laid there and tossed and turned. I was uncomfortable. I was 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I wanted to get the show on the road! Little did I know the show was on its way, coming down the fast lane.

I was just about to drift off to sleep around 11:15 to 11:30 when I felt a contraction. Hum, I usually don't have them when laying down. And this one was getting painful. I got up and went to the bathroom. I had another fun sign of labor approaching in the bathroom, so i knew something was happening. I texted my girlfriends that I think something was up. This was 11:42 pm.

I filled my tub and crawled in hoping to labor at home for a while. I told my husband to get the computer and to start timing the contractions. By midnight the contractions were 2 minutes apart lasting about 2 minutes each. Hum. Maybe time to call some people!

12/8/09

Stephen called my mom (to come and watch Little Man) and our doula and midwife. Looking at my phone, he called my mom at 12:13, the midwife at 12:19 and my doula at 12:21. (My water broke when Stephen was on the phone with our doula) My mom was on her way, my midwife said get to the hospital. The contractions were coming so fast, and starting out SO hard, I just knew there was NO way I could do this naturally. I begged Stephen to get me to the hospital and to get me an epidural!

I suddenly felt the urge to push. I never felt this with Little Man since I was so drugged, and I did not believe that I was feeling it. It was too fast. There is no way I was fully dilated!

I pushed once and put my hands down there. I felt his head bulging me outward so I told Stephen to call 911. He didn't believe me when I told him I NEEDED to push. He was telling me to just hold on and we would get to the car, and to the hospital. He did not believe that the baby was coming either.

I pushed again and felt his head crowning. At this point Stephen was on the phone with 911. I don't know when he realized that I was not kidding, and called 911. He told them "my wife's in labor".

I pushed again and his head came out. I was in SHOCK. OH MY GOODNESS!!! I was having him in my tub at home! All these thoughts came to mind. I am at HOME, in my tub, with NO MEDICAL PEOPLE PRESENT. What if he gets stuck? What if the cord is wrapped around his neck? What if I can't get him out?

I gained my composure, and knew that I could do this. I knew what to do. Almost like instinct.

The next contraction came and I pushed out his body. I had my hands down there to catch him and pull him up to my chest. I rubbed his head and Stephen patted his back. Stephen was still on the phone with 911. He told them that the baby was born! I asked Stephen what time it was. I wanted to know the exact time I had him. It was 12:30 am.

He let out the tiniest little cry. I knew he was ok. I pulled him off my chest to check for his cord. It was around his shoulder, but not his neck. I untangled him, and put him back between my breasts and covered him with a towel that was on the side of the tub.

Stephen went downstairs to let my mom in (who had been trying to knock for a few minutes, and even called, but we never heard her) and wait for the ambulance.

My mom came upstairs and saw him. The look on her face was priceless. I don't think she believe that I just delivered a baby in the tub at home either!

The paramedics got there a few minutes later. I still had Little Miracle on my chest and covered so we stayed that way for a few minutes to try to wait for the placenta. The paramedics were very nice and were doing things on my time. After a few minutes they suggested that we go ahead and cut the cord so they could check on the baby. I agreed and they clamped it. They went to cut it (with a razor blade they had!) I stopped them, and asked if Stephen could cut it. They all looked at each other (there was about 4-5 men in my bathroom... all of them with a look of disbelief and shock on their face... I don't think any of them had ever seen a call like this before, either that, or they were just happy they did not have to deliver a baby) and someone finally said "Well I don't see why not" and handed Stephen the razor blade.

The one female that was there with the paramedics took Little Miracle and wrapped him up in a foil blanket. She took him to the master bedroom. We (the men and I)waited about 10 minutes for the placenta and it was not coming, so they loaded Little Miracle and I up into the ambulance to head to the hospital. I told them which one I wanted to go to, and away we went.

I held Little Miracle on my chest skin to skin the whole ride down. I was having contractions still, but they were no where near as strong as the ones I had just had. We finally made it to the hospital, and my doula showed up, then Stephen (he had to follow in our car) then my midwife.

The placenta took what felt like forever, but it was nice to have my doula there to help me thru the contractions. Once it came I felt SO much better! My midwife had to sew me up because he came so fast that I tore. I did not feel it when it happened, because his head numbed me on the way out.

The female paramedic was finishing up her paperwork and talking to me. She said that the initial call she got was "woman in labor". Then she said not even 30 seconds later, dispatch said "woman delivered". She said she had to question dispatch "Woman delivering, or delivered?" because she did not believe it either!

By the time my midwife was done sewing up my nether regions, it was all starting to sink in. I had a baby! At home! In my bathtub! With no one there! In less than an hour! Now that's a feeling! Talk about on top of the world. I still want to stand on top of the roof and shout! I DID IT! Granted, not how I had planned AT ALL, but either way, I did it!

He was born at 12:30 on the nose. 7 lbs 6.9 ozs 19 inches. Perfectly healthy!

Praise God everybody is ok! I remember that feeling of needing to push with Lily...but she did get stuck and we got to the hospital in time. Was everything ok with not getting your meds for the STrep B? He is a cutie! What a fun story to share!

All the prayers said for our new little one and Praise God he is just perfect and all went well, or best as could, under the circumstances!!

Yes! I'm downstairs knocking and waiting thinking 'she's having a contraction, ok, just wait' .. Knock, knock, knock I'm here, why aren't they letting me in? Why is the phone on voicemail? Then Stephen bouncing down the stairs on the phone "She's just had the baby, if you know anything go do it!" Whaaa???

Racing up the stairs I hear his cry, Praise God he's OK!!

How very very precious to see my new little one just mins old and eyes wide open ~ and my sweet older one calm as she can be.

We had to stay in the hospital for 48 hours due to the fact that I was group B strep positive (was in early and late pregnancy). I hated having to stay, but they needed to make sure our Little Miracle was healthy.

I would not do a planned homebirth. They are not for me! The closest hospital to me is not a great one, so should a true emergency arise, I would have to go there. I will do a natural labor/birth again though. Hopefully my next child will allow me to have the hospital waterbirth that I had planned!

Your story made me cry! How beautiful, wonderful and empowering! I had my daughter 10 months ago in the hospital, no drugs, no IV at all. It was great but I was wishing I was at home! Good for you and CONGRATULATIONS!

I found your blog from the babycenter post, and i have to say WOW!!!!! What an absolutely amazing story! the best ever! i had my 2 naturally, but not at home, ALONE! What an awesome job you did. as much as i want to have our next in the hospital with my midwife, i wouldnt mind it going the same as you! fabulous. what a blessing!